Apparatus and machine-implemented method for predicting winning numbers in roulette

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is adapted for use with a roulette gaming device for predicting winning numbers. The roulette gaming device includes a rotatable wheel, a track, a ball, and a plurality of slots each having a number that is designated as an actual winning number when the ball falls thereinto. The apparatus includes: a detecting module for detecting relative motional characteristics between the ball and the wheel to obtain motional parameters; a computing module installed with a relational equation that expresses a relation between the motional parameters and a winning number to be predicted, the computing module inputting into the relational equation the motional parameters and preset control parameters to calculate a predicted winning number; and an output module for displaying the predicted winning number. A machine-implemented method is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 095136373, filed on Sep. 29, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a machine-implemented method for predicting winning numbers in the game of roulette.

2. Description of the Related Art

A roulette gaming device includes a wheel that has 38 numbered slots (36 numbers plus 0 and 00). The French or European wheel has 36 numbers plus a single 0 for a total of 37 numbered slots. Partitions are disposed on the wheel to define the slots, and a number is associated with each of the slots.

A game begins after the dealer has cleared off losing bets and paid winners from the previous game. Gamers are then allowed to bet on the next game. The dealer spins the wheel, and then spins a ball in a track formed around the circumference of the wheel. After a set time, the dealer notifies the gamers that no more bets will be accepted. The ball eventually falls onto the wheel and in to one of the slots to there by designate the winning number for the game.

The game of roulette has changed very little over the years and has experienced no change in recent years. Most garners enjoy the traditional aspect of roulette and are uninterested in playing on roulette tables in which the roulette gaming experience has been drastically altered. However, other casino games that are continuously changed enjoy increased popularity, often at the expense of the popularity of roulette. Hence, there is a need to introduce more interest and excitement into the game of roulette without changing the existing equipment and game rules thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and a machine-implemented method for predicting winning numbers in the game of roulette, in which gamers are provided with the additional option of betting on a predicted winning number to thereby enhance gaming interest.

According to one aspect, the apparatus of this invention is adapted for use with a roulette gaming device for predicting winning numbers, the roulette gaming device including a rotatable wheel, a track formed around a circumference of the wheel, a ball that is spun on the track, and a plurality of slots formed on the wheel and each associated with a number that is designated as an actual winning number when the ball falls thereinto from the track during play. The apparatus comprises: a detecting module adapted for detecting relative motional characteristics between the ball and the wheel to thereby obtain a plurality of motional parameters; a computing module coupled to the detecting module to receive the motional parameters from the detecting module, the computing module having stored therein a relational equation that expresses a relation between the motional parameters and a winning number to be predicted, the computing module inputting into the relational equation the motional parameters and preset control parameters associated with wheel characteristics to calculate a predicted winning number; and an output module coupled to the computing module for displaying the predicted winning number.

According to another aspect of this invention, the machine-implemented method is adapted for use with the roulette gaming device to predict winning numbers. The machine-implemented method comprises: detecting relative motional characteristics between the ball and the wheel to thereby obtain a plurality of motional parameters; pre-setting a relational equation and a plurality of control parameters of wheel characteristics, the relational equation expressing a relation between the motional parameters and a winning number to be predicted; inputting the motional parameters and the control parameters into the relational equation to calculate a predicted winning number; and displaying the predicted winning number.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of an apparatus for predicting winning numbers in roulette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a machine-implemented method for predicting winning numbers in roulette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus 1 for predicting winning numbers according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted for use with a roulette gaming device 2. The roulette gaming device 2 includes a rotatable wheel 21, a track 23 formed around a circumference of the wheel 21, a ball 22 that is spun on the track 23, and a plurality of slots 210 formed on the wheel 21 and each associated with a number that is designated as an actual winning number when the ball 22 falls thereinto from the track 23 during play.

In the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that the wheel 21 is mechanically controlled to rotate at fixed rates and durations of rotation. That is, in the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that the wheel 21 is mechanically controlled to rotate at fixed rates and durations of acceleration, terminal velocity, and deceleration. However, the present invention is not limited in this respect, and the apparatus 1 may be adapted for use with the roulette gaming device 2 in which the wheel 21 there of is manually rotated by a dealer in a known manner. Also, the ball 22 may be thrown onto the track 23 for spinning thereon either manually or through use of an automatic ball-throwing device (not shown).

The known constants in the game of roulette are referred to as control parameters and include various wheel characteristics, such as dimensions of the wheel 21, fixed rates and durations of rotation of the wheel 21 (in the preferred embodiment), and the number, dimensions, and positioning of obstacles on the wheel 21 (e.g., the partitions that form the slots 210). The control parameters are preset by being input into the apparatus 1 for predicting winning numbers prior to the start of gaming. This will be described in greater detail below.

The apparatus 1 for predicting winning numbers according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disposed at least partially in proximity to the wheel 21, and includes a detecting module 3, a database 4, a machine-learning module 5, a computing module 6, and an output module 7.

In the preferred embodiment, the detecting module 3 includes a high-speed charge coupled device (CCD) camera, but is not limited in this respect and may include any device capable of aiding in the detection of the speed of a fast-moving object. The detecting module 3 is used to detect motional characteristics of the ball 22 and/or relative motional characteristics between the ball 22 and the wheel 21 to thereby obtain a plurality of motional parameters. In the preferred embodiment, the wheel 21 rotates at fixed rates and durations as described above such that these motional parameters are known (i.e., these parameters are control parameters as described above). In the preferred embodiment, the motional parameters include a speed at which the ball 22 is thrown onto the track 23, a direction of travel of the ball 22 on the track 23, a speed at which the ball 22 travels on the track 23, and a deceleration rate of the ball 22. If the wheel 21 is manually rotated by the dealer, the rotational speed of the wheel 21 is also detected by the detecting module 3 for use as a motional parameter.

The database 4 stores the control parameters, the motional parameters obtained for each game by the detecting module 3, a predicted winning number calculated for each game by the computing module 6 (to be described below), and the actual winning number obtained for each game. The actual winning number may be manually inputted after each game or may be detected by the detecting module 3. In the preferred embodiment, the database 4 stores data of a plurality of games in a statistical table of the motional parameters and the actual winning number for each game.

The computing module 6 is coupled to the detecting module 3 and the machine-learning module 5, and receives the motional parameters detected by the detecting module 3. A relational equation is stored in the computing module 6. The relational equation expresses a relation between the motional parameters and a winning number to be predicted. The computing module 6 inputs into the relational equation the motional parameters and the preset control parameters to calculate a predicted winning number.

The machine-learning module 5 is coupled to the computing module 6 and the database 4. The machine-learning module 5 adjusts and corrects the relational equation, that is, the relation between the motional parameters and the winning number to be predicted of the relational equation, so as to correlate with the relation between the motional parameters and the actual winning number for each game as stored in the statistical table.

The output module 7 is coupled to the computing module 6 and displays the predicted winning number calculated by the computing module 6.

Referring to FIG. 2, processes involved in an example roulette game, and a machine-implemented method for predicting a winning number during the roulette game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the preferred embodiment, before the start of each game, the control parameters and the relational equation have been pre-established for use by the computing module 6 of the apparatus 1 for predicting winning numbers. Alternatively, pre-setting of the control parameters and the relational equation may form a part of the machine-implemented method of the present invention.

Instep 11, a roulette game is started. In particular, following completion of a previous game and after clearing away losing bets and paying off winners of the previous game, the dealer starts a new game.

In step 12, the wheel 21 is spun, and the ball 22 is spun on the track 23.

In step 13, relative motional characteristics between the ball 22 and the wheel 21 are detected by the detecting module 3 to obtain the plurality of motional parameters. The motional parameters are transmitted to the computing module 6.

In step 14, assuming that the relational equation and the plurality of control parameters of wheel characteristics have been preset as described above, the computing module 6 inputs the motional parameters and the control parameters into the relational equation to calculate a predicted winning number.

In step 15, the output module 7 displays the predicted winning number.

In step 16, gamers are allowed to place bets and continue to do so until the dealer indicates that no more bets will be allowed.

In step 17, the wheel 21 slows, and the ball 22 falls from the track 23 and settles in one of the slots 210 to thereby designate the actual winning number.

In step 18, the related data of the just completed game (i.e., the control parameters, motional parameters, predicted winning number, and actual winning number) are stored in the database 4. Also, in step 18, the related data of the just completed game are provided to the machine-learning module 5 to allow the same to improve the relational equation by a process of machine learning, such that the relation between the motional parameters and the winning number to be predicted of the relational equation is adjusted and corrected so as to correlate with historical statistical results.

In the above-described apparatus and machine-implemented method of the present invention, winning numbers are predicted for the game of roulette. Accordingly, gamers are provided with the additional betting option of betting on the predicted winning number. This greatly enhances the excitement of each game and, ultimately, overall interest in the game of roulette.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An apparatus adapted for use with a roulette gaming device for predicting winning numbers, the roulette gaming device including a rotatable wheel, a track formed around a circumference of the wheel, a ball that is spun on the track, and a plurality of slots formed on the wheel and each associated with a number that is designated as an actual winning number when the ball falls thereinto from the track during play, said apparatus comprising: a detecting module adapted for detecting relative motional characteristics between the ball and the wheel to thereby obtain a plurality of motional parameters; a computing module coupled to said detecting module to receive the motional parameters from said detecting module, said computing module having stored therein a relational equation that expresses a relation between the motional parameters and a winning number to be predicted, said computing module inputting into the relational equation the motional parameters and preset control parameters associated with wheel characteristics to calculate a predicted winning number; and an output module coupled to said computing module for displaying the predicted winning number.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a database for storing the control parameters, the motional parameters obtained for each game by said detecting module, the predicted winning number calculated for each game by said computing module, and the actual winning number obtained for each game, the actual winning number being one of manually inputted and detected by said detecting module.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said database stores data of a plurality of games in a statistical table of the motional parameters and the actual winning number for each game.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a machine-learning module coupled to said computing module and said database, said machine-learning module adjusting and correcting the relation between the motional parameters and the winning number to be predicted of the relational equation so as to correlate with the relation between the motional parameters and the actual winning number for each game as stored in the statistical table.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control parameters include at least one of wheel dimensions, a number of obstacles on the wheel, dimensions of the obstacles on the wheel, and positioning of the obstacles on the wheel.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, the wheel being mechanically controlled to rotate at fixed rates and durations of acceleration, terminal velocity, and deceleration, wherein the control parameters further include mechanically controlled fixed rates and durations of rotation of the wheel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motional parameters obtained by said detecting module include at least one of a rotational speed of the wheel, a speed at which the ball is thrown onto the track, a direction of travel of the ball on the track, a speed at which the ball travels on the track, and a deceleration rate of the ball.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detecting module includes a high-speed charged coupled device (CCD) camera.
 9. A machine-implemented method adapted for use with a roulette gaming device to predict winning numbers, the roulette gaming device including a rotatable wheel, a track formed around a circumference of the wheel, a ball that is spun on the track, and a plurality of slots formed on the wheel in a manner to allow the ball to be respectively received therein and each associated with a number that is designated as an actual winning number when the ball falls thereinto from the track during play, said machine-implemented method comprising: detecting relative motional characteristics between the ball and the wheel to thereby obtain a plurality of motional parameters; pre-setting a relational equation and a plurality of control parameters of wheel characteristics, the relational equation expressing a relation between the motional parameters and a winning number to be predicted; inputting the motional parameters and the control parameters into the relational equation to calculate a predicted winning number; and displaying the predicted winning number.
 10. The machine-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising storing the control parameters, the motional parameters for each game, the predicted winning number for each game, and the actual winning number for each game, the actual winning number being one of manually inputted and detected.
 11. The machine-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting and correcting the relation between the motional parameters and the winning number to be predicted of the relational equation so as to correlate with historical statistical results.
 12. The machine-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the control parameters include at least one of wheel dimensions, a number of obstacles on the wheel, dimensions of the obstacles on the wheel, and positioning of the obstacles on the wheel.
 13. The machine-implemented method of claim 12, the wheel being mechanically controlled to rotate at fixed rates and durations of acceleration, terminal velocity, and deceleration, wherein the control parameters further include mechanically controlled fixed rates and durations of rotation of the wheel.
 14. The machine-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the motional parameters include at least one of a rotational speed of the wheel, a speed at which the ball is thrown onto the track, a direction of travel of the ball on the track, a speed at which the ball travels on the track, and a deceleration rate of the ball.
 15. The machine-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the relative motional characteristics between the ball and the wheel are detected using a high-speed CCD camera. 